Salé

Salé is a city in Morocco.

It sits by a river. The city is near Rabat. You can ride a tram to get there.

The city has an old town. It has big walls to keep it safe. There is a famous gate called Bab el-Mrisa.

Many years ago, pirates lived here. They used ships to travel. This made the city very well known.

The weather is often warm. The summers are hot and dry. The winters are mild and wet.

There is an airport nearby. People use it to fly to the city. It is a busy place to visit.

Salé is a city in northwestern Morocco.

It sits on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river. The city is right across the water from Rabat. Rabat is the capital of Morocco. Salé and Rabat work together as one big area.

The city has a very old part called a medina. You can see big walls around it. One famous entrance is a gate called Bab el-Mrisa.

This gate was built in the 1270s. There is also a beautiful building called the Madrasa of Abu al-Hasan.

This was a school built in 1342.

Long ago, Salé was a home for pirates. In the 1600s, they even had their own republic. Today, people use many ways to travel. You can take a tram to reach Rabat.

There is also the Rabat–Salé Airport nearby.

People use this airport to fly to both cities. The weather is warm and dry in the summer. The winters are mild and wet.

Salé is a busy city located in northwestern Morocco.

It sits on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river. The city is located directly across the water from Rabat, which is the capital of Morocco. Together, Salé and Rabat form one large metropolitan area. Many people live in Salé and travel to Rabat for work every day. The city is near the Atlantic Ocean, which gives it a Mediterranean climate. This means the summers are warm and dry, while the winters are mild and damp.

History tells us that Salé has many layers of stories. Long ago, the Phoenicians made a settlement called Sala nearby. Later, a Roman colony called Sala Colonia sat across the river. In the 11th century, families from al-Andalus likely founded the town of Salé. These families included important judges and learned men who helped rule the city. In the 12th century, the Almohad leaders used the city as a residence. They even built the Great Mosque of Salé in 1196.

During the Marinid period, the city grew much stronger. Leaders built new walls and a protected harbour to keep the city safe. They also built famous gates like Bab el-Mrisa in the 1270s.

This gate served as a water gate for boats. The Marinids also built many religious buildings and a hospital. In the 14th century, a famous mystic named Ibn 'Ashir moved there. He became a patron saint of the city. His tomb is now in a large seaside cemetery.

In the 17th century, Salé became famous for a different reason. It became a home for pirates known as the Salé Rovers. These pirates even formed their own independent republic. They were known for capturing ships and people from European coasts. This caused trouble with other countries like Spain and France. Eventually, these European powers used their fleets to attack the city. Today, the city is much more peaceful and has a population of over one million people.

Modern Salé is a place of movement and connection. You can travel easily between Salé and Rabat using the tramway.

This tram system opened in 2011 and has many stations. For traveling far away, people use the Rabat–Salé Airport.

The city also has two main train stations for long trips. You can take a train to see cities like Casablanca or Marrakesh. Even though it is an old city, it stays very connected to the rest of the world.

Salé is a significant city located in northwestern Morocco. It sits on the right bank of the Bou Regreg river. The city is located directly opposite the national capital, Rabat. Together, Salé and Rabat form a single metropolitan area. Salé serves as a major commuter town for the capital. According to the 2024 Moroccan census, the city has a population of 1,089,554. The city is near the Atlantic Ocean. This location gives it a Mediterranean climate.

The climate in Salé is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers. The winters are generally mild and damp. Daytime temperatures usually rise during the summer months. However, summer nights remain pleasant and cool. Winter highs typically occur between December and February. The climate resembles parts of the Iberian Peninsula or Southern California. This coastal position influences the local weather patterns significantly.

Salé has a very long and complex history. The Phoenicians established a settlement called Sala in the region. Later, a Roman colony known as Sala Colonia existed across the river. The modern town of Salé was likely founded in the 11th century. Families from al-Andalus, such as the Banu 'Ashara, were the founders. These families included learned jurists and judges who acted as rulers. In 1121, the Banu 'Ashara hosted the founder of the Almohad movement, Ibn Tumart.

The Almohad and Marinid periods brought major changes to the city. The Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur ordered the construction of the Great Mosque in 1196. He also reportedly built the first bridge to Rabat. During the Marinid period, the city's defenses were upgraded. The Marinid sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Abd Al-Haqq helped rebuild the city walls. In the 1270s, the monumental gate Bab el-Mrisa was constructed.

The Marinids also built a protected harbor with two channels. This harbor used monumental gates to allow boats to pass through.

In the 14th century, the city became a center for Sufism. A mystic named Ibn 'Ashir moved to Salé from al-Andalus. He attracted many other Sufis to the city. Ibn 'Ashir eventually became the patron saint of Salé. His mausoleum is located in a large seaside cemetery. The Marinids also built several important structures during this era. These included the Madrasa of Abu al-Hasan and a maristan, which was a hospital for the mentally ill.

The 17th century saw the rise of the Republic of Salé. During this time, the city became a haven for Barbary pirates. These included Moriscos who had been expelled from Spain. These pirates were known as the "Salé Rovers." They formed an independent republic and captured people from European coasts. In 1625, English villagers were captured and sold. European powers eventually responded with military force. In 1629, a French fleet commanded by Admiral Isaac de Razilly bombarded the city. This attack destroyed three corsair ships.

In the 20th century, Salé became a center for Moroccan nationalism. Activists in the city helped launch the "Latif" prayer movement. This was a politically charged prayer read in mosques. Activists also organized a petition against the Berber Dahir. This was a decree regarding Berber customary law. The controversy helped create a nationalist elite in Salé and Fez. This political awareness contributed to the 1944 Manifesto of Independence. Salé has also been known as a stronghold for the Moroccan left.

Modern Salé is highly connected through advanced infrastructure. The Rabat–Salé tramway connects the two cities across the river. This network opened in 2011 and features 43 stations.

For international travel, the city hosts the Rabat–Salé Airport. The city is also served by two major railway stations. These are Salé-Ville and Salé-Tabriquet. The Salé-Ville station connects the city to locations like Casablanca and Marrakesh. These systems allow the city to function as a vital part of the metropolitan area.